Title: Specialist, Plant Health Care

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt (hourly)

Department: Plant Health Care

Reports to: Supervisor, Plant Health Care

Year-Round Full-time

Supervises: Interns, Seasonals, and Volunteers

Position Overview:

Maintain quality plant collections in gardens, grounds, and turf using an integrated pest management program including preventive, biological, cultural, and chemical control methods.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Monitor, identify, and determine appropriate control measures for pest activities including insects, diseases, weeds, and animals.
• Carry out treatments in a safe and legal manner including but not limited to applications of herbicides, insecticides, miticides, fungicides, and repellents.
• Perform fertilization of collections in garden areas and grounds as required.
• Carry out animal management activities in a safe and legal manner including but not limited to spraying repellents and trapping.
• Keep accurate records of all pest-control activities and daily accounting of work performed.
• Safely operate small equipment such as sprayers, chainsaws, mowers, leaf blowers, weed whips, and snow-removal equipment.
• Perform required maintenance on department vehicles, tools, and equipment.
• Prune the collections as required.
• Serve as a horticultural resource for the Garden by teaching for the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, leading tours, answering visitor and staff questions, writing articles, doing demonstrations, and giving media interviews.
• Assist display gardens staff with snow removal as needed.
• Interact daily with staff, volunteers, and the public in a friendly and respectful manner.
• Maintain a high level of computer literacy for interdepartmental documentation and communication.
• Assist the horticulture division with support for special events and other projects as needed.
• Work occasional overtime to meet operational needs of the department.

Chicago Botanic Garden Values & Behaviors:

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• 
  Bachelor’s degree in horticulture or commensurate experience.
• Two years of hands-on work experience with an emphasis on plant healthcare and integrated pest management.
• Have a valid Illinois pesticide applicator’s license in ornamentals and turf or be able to obtain a license within the first week of hire. Upkeep renewal every three years.
• Must be able to operate backpack sprayers and large hydraulic sprayers after training.
• Must be a licensed driver insurable by the Chicago Horticultural Society.
• Basic use of Microsoft Office Suite. Excel for tracking data for Plant Health Care. PowerPoint for the occasional presentation.
• Proficiency in using mapping software for tracking trees in the collection, currently ArchGIS.

Physical Demands:

Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds. Frequent bending, lifting, walking, pulling, pushing. Must work outdoors in all types of weather conditions year-round including extreme heat and humidity, snow, and ice.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.